To mitigate Gibbs outburst is simply taking the Mickey

By Michael Gleeson

17 January 2007 — 11:00am

HERSCHELLE Gibbs will attend a disciplinary hearing before Cricket South Africa's disciplinary committee this week for his pathetic, scalding outburst during the first Test. There, he will confront the possibility of further sanction on top of match referee Chris Broad's two-match ban imposed yesterday.

However, Gibbs should not be alone when he visits the country's cricket police. Alongside him should be South Africa coach Mickey Arthur, who also deserves sanction for his blinding naivete over the Gibbs gaffe.

Responding to news of Gibbs' scandalous remarks, Arthur tried to tow a politically correct line, but didn't seem to know what that line was. He became jumbled in an assertion that revealed he was not at all sure what would have constituted correct behaviour. His comments betrayed the coach as not entirely certain who was at fault or what had upset him most: the player or the fact some pesky microphone had drawn the issue into focus.

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"It wasn't directed at any Pakistani player, it was done between overs," rationalised Arthur about Gibbs' comments, apparently directed to taunting Pakistani fans whom Gibbs described as "bloody animals" and "f---ing baboons".

"One of our players did shout something and it was picked up by the stump mikes," Arthur added. "Most sides in the world play it tough and that's the way it should be. There is a fine line and I don't think you should ever step over that line, but I'm not sure what the boundary is."

Well, here's a hint, Mickey: calling people animals and baboons is pretty much a no-no.

Then this from the Proteas coach: "What happens in the middle stays in the middle — that's the way we like to play it." Doubtless it is. But to allow such an antiquated view of permissible sporting behaviour licenses players to say whatever outrage they like to unsettle an opponent, then say, "Shucks, it was all in the name of sport, no harm intended". Times, even in South Africa, have changed, Mickey.

Then he suggested that it was not the message but the messenger that was to blame, those infernal stump microphones which, he said, "are a little intrusive". A silly complaint. Those microphones help record the action — all the action — on the field. They are not in the dressing room, the toilet or the players' hotel rooms (not, at least, since Shane Warne retired).

Gibbs' comments on the field may have been provoked by moronic elements on the boundary whom it is alleged racially abused South African players, including Gibbs.

Bowler Paul Harris complained to ground staff about the behaviour of several Pakistani fans and they were removed. Chris Broad accepted this as mitigation for Gibbs' Kramer-like outburst.

While Gibbs' comments were made in the parry of competition, Arthur's were not. Arthur had the time to weigh up the situation and the appropriate response. If this is the considered reaction of the man installed to govern this team, then the South Africans have the wrong man in charge.